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What This Inmate Did After He Found a Trooper’s Lost, Loaded Gun Could Pay Dividends

Feb. 6, 2013 2:38pm Erica Ritz

Inmate Tommie Bryant Finds Loaded Gun at School Gymnasium Forgotten by State Police Troooper Returns It

Inmate Tommie Bryant discusses how he found a loaded gun in the Russell County High School gymnasium(Photo: WKYT)

Kentucky State Police trooper Billy Gregory was attending a basketball game at the Russell County High School last week when he made a small decision that could’ve resulted in disaster.

When he sat down, he took his gun and badge out of his pocket and put them on the bleachers behind him. When he left, he forgot to grab them.

Not only did a student not find the objects, an inmate on a work release program found them, and turned them in immediately.

What are the odds?

Tommie Bryant was cleaning up after the game when he found the weapon, and says he immediately called for the school guard.

“I was surprised. I was scared,” Bryant commented Tuesday from inside the Russell County Jail, according to WKYT. “Knowing that kids were just there, and kids could be coming back the next day at school…”

Kentucky State Police trooper Billy Gregory forgot his loaded gun at a school gymnasium. (Photo: WKYT)

Parents aren’t altogether pleased, though they’re happy the inmate chose to return the gun to the proper authorities.

“I have a granddaughter that was at the game that night,” school board member Gerald Murray told LEX18. ”Somebody could have kicked it. It could have went off. I’m glad nobody did.”

Bryant has served two years of a fifteen-year sentence for charges that include burglary and possession of a handgun, WKYT adds.

But the Russell County jailer says he plans to write a letter of commendation for Bryant in light of the incident, suggesting his term be reduced. As is, Bryant is reportedly be eligible for parole in September.

“I no longer want to break the law. My rehabilitation tells me to do the right thing,” Bryant claimed.

State police are investigating the incident and say they will do “due diligence” before taking any action against Gregory.

But at least one man is full of praise for Bryant.

“I’m glad we had a good, honest, decent inmate that found the gun,” Murray remarked.

Watch the WKYT interview with Bryant, below:

WKYT 27 NEWSFIRST

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Comments (147)

AverageWhiteMale
Posted on February 6, 2013 at 9:02pm
When I was a kid I remember my step Father who was a cop getting wasted at home and leaving his gun on the couch after going ot bed. We never even thought of touching it. Actually when we were kids he gave us a real 38 with the pin removed to play with, again we didn’t think anything more of it than a toy to play cops and robbers or cowboys with. What a different world we live in now, I wouldn’t think of just giving my kid a gun without teaching them respect for it and safety which I hope to do with my girls.

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CrismaFire
Posted on February 6, 2013 at 9:01pm
I can’t believe so many of you are butt holes. The cop made an honest mistake bet none of you every lost your wallet or purse or maybe your car keys. He probably worked all day and wanted to see his kid he was probably tired. Gee now I know why Jesus said let him who is without sin cast the first stone. Give the cop a break he isn’t perfect yet.

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South Philly Boy
Posted on February 6, 2013 at 8:50pm
Tommie is a Good Man

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SeanW
Posted on February 6, 2013 at 8:10pm
@SMGHVACR Here’s the thing. There is a social contract that binds the very threads of society together. They are simple treat yourself and others with dignity and respect. You say you are an ex-felon, did 10 years. That’s not a small thing. You chose your path. You decided you were more important than everyone and anyone else. Instead of whining about not being able to have a gun be thankful that you have been given another opportunity to make something worthwhile of yourself. If everyone chose like you did, there would be no society left. That’s why you cannot have a gun and if you get one you go away for the rest of whats left of it.

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ares338
Posted on February 6, 2013 at 7:56pm
This trooper does NOT need to be a trooper.

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denkat56
Posted on February 6, 2013 at 7:45pm
The trooper should be severely punished if not fired, you don’t ever forget your weapon, never. Parole the convict, he proved himself already.

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Jake Dog2
Posted on February 6, 2013 at 7:42pm
The article never said what happened to the trooper. Maybe the should give the inmate his job

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gimmedatfree
Posted on February 6, 2013 at 7:38pm
Richard Crainium with oberman glasses.

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GuruMeditation
Posted on February 6, 2013 at 6:55pm
Very lame on behalf of the officer. You just don’t do that.

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gimmedatfree
Posted on February 6, 2013 at 6:53pm
That is one Herman Munster. Somebody call Raylon

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Disgusted_in_CT
Posted on February 6, 2013 at 6:24pm
“I’m glad we had a good, honest, decent inmate that found the gun,” Murray remarked.

HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA

OMG I haven’t laughed this hard in a long time.

Psst Murray, you trust inmates and cons about as far as you can throw them.
The skid knew he wouldn’t be able to use it so he turned it in and then hammed it up knowing it would look good on his parole hearing.
Just like they find God in prison and then as soon as they are released, right back to their old ways.
Are they all like that?
Well, in my experience about 90 percent of them are.
I am still chuckling over that comment.

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Larry E
Posted on February 6, 2013 at 6:17pm
This is why we should only trust the police and military with guns! If a civilian had done something this stupid they’d likely end up in the slammer.

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P4cooler
Posted on February 6, 2013 at 6:01pm
We must remember that many people in prison are good people. They just had too much adventure in their lives. I wonder how many thousands of INNOCENT folks are incarcerated? Thumbs up to Tommie! Way to go dude! Of course I admit there are basket-case dangerous evil characters on the inside, but not Tommie. I have worked for companies that if given a choice, will many times hire a prior felon over someone with a DUI record. Multiple drunk driving convictions would scare any potential employer.

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Sayre
Posted on February 6, 2013 at 5:56pm
A crazy bad thoughtless act on the cops behalf…. What was he thinking by even taking it out in a public place? I am more interested in the man who found it. Many people have made bad choices in life but this guy just demonstrated his conversion from the dark side…. He does not seem to have been tainted by the bitterness so many in his situation have. They should write to his parol board, but they also should take that extra step and go see the parol board. He really should be cut some slack.

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RDavis49
Posted on February 6, 2013 at 5:41pm
Ooooooops…. I guess this means the liberal socialist/communist progressive democrats will be out to disarm the police next.

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- gimmedatfree
  Posted on February 6, 2013 at 8:42pm
  That might be a bad thing as most of them are union tools.
  
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carbonated
Posted on February 6, 2013 at 5:41pm
Prisoner is lucky he didn’t get busted for touching the gun. I figured as soon as he touched it (despite his good intentions), a ton of ATF guys would jump and throw him jail forever.

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turbo
Posted on February 6, 2013 at 5:29pm
Additionally, Gerald Murray told LEX18 news “If dat gun had did went off, it’s be a goot chance someone cood had been hurt”.

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b.clue2
Posted on February 6, 2013 at 5:22pm
Hey, it happens, just today I left my wallet at Costco….that’s the same thing, right?

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- RDavis49
  Posted on February 6, 2013 at 5:43pm
  Yep, sure is….. those credit cards have been proven deadly.
  
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Noah_fing-whey
Posted on February 6, 2013 at 5:06pm
I wonder if his bullet was in his shirt pocket.

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TexBork
Posted on February 6, 2013 at 5:00pm
It could happen to anyone… See here’s my gun… um… it was right here… Let me retrace my steps… Let’s see, I went to Sonic, I pulled it out when that guy was J-walking, then Planet K (I can’t wait to use that ‘Silver Surfer’ when I get home!), oh, then the topless bar, then I went to the high school for cheer leader practi.. uh, security, OH YEAH! That’s where I decided it was a great idea to take my weapon off and set it down outside in public! I should swing by there in the morning and check on it!

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AmericaMustBeFree
Posted on February 6, 2013 at 4:53pm
Why is this a half story.. what happened to the inept trooper who just left a loaded gun etc on the bleachers? And please tell me how smart it is to take them off and set them on the bleachers behind you.. out of his eye sight.. I think this trooper needs to find a new job.. I don’t find him responsible at all!

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Salamander
Posted on February 6, 2013 at 4:53pm
Sounds to me like the trooper owes the con a breakfast and a thank you! Don’t be too hard on the trooper–he probably took it off so as NOT to ‘show off’ his presence. It ididn’t say if he was in uniform–probably NOT! He’ll suffer the embarrassment of his inattention forever. And, he’ll be thankful for his good fortune that things came to a happy ending! Cons owe a special obligation to those that help them in the re-entry process! And, they’ll fulfill it! Anybody want to figure out how many people in 100 have ‘done time’? With the size of our prison population, I’d bet it would surprise you!

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perry1980
Posted on February 6, 2013 at 4:51pm
I say that earns him a Get Out of Jail card

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OniKaze
Posted on February 6, 2013 at 4:30pm
Just goes to show that being an “inmate” doesn’t necessarily make you a “bad” person, it only implies that you have made mistakes… I always try to think about stuff like this… Remember people, “Good” and “Evil” are only a matter of perspective..

People tend to leap before looking when it comes to things like this.. (not everyone, but some)..

Murder is generally looked at as being “evil” but what if the hypothetical person being murdered was a serial killer who just hadn’t been caught yet?? Would you say the murder of an “evil” person is still “evil”?? I am not saying that the ends always justify the means, but it is always best to keep an open mind about things before making a concrete decision about your stance on something… Most of the time, we are never told the whole story…

And that old saying that “History is written by the Victorious” (or survivors) did come around for a reason…

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Uechi
Posted on February 6, 2013 at 4:18pm
The Trooper is an incompetent negligent fool that should be fired!

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